Side brace for hydraulic stackers



June 12, 1956 w. R. OHRMANN SIDE BRACE FOR HYDRAULIC STACKERS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil ed March 5, 1954 IN V EN TOR. WILL/A M 'R. OHIINAAWfund M June 12, 1956 w. R. OHRMANN SIDE BRACE FOR HYDRAULIC STACKERS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1954 A RNE T United States Patent SIDEBRACE FOR HYDRAULIC STACKERS William R. Ohrmann, Drummond, Mont.

Application March 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,476

1 Claim. (Cl. 280-150) This invention relates to stacking machines andmore particularly to means for stabilizing the same.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide wingstructures upon the opposite sides of a conventional hydraulic stacker,which while permitting free movement of the stacker, when in the act ofcollecting a load, can be regidified when the act of elevating the loadon to a stack is to be effected, and this to the end that the stackerwill be prevented from tipping toward one side or the other, whichfrequently occurs now without such stabilizing means.

Another important object of the invention is to provide stabilizingmeans of the character stated for stackers, which is of simpleconstruction and not susceptible to the ready development of defects.

Another object of the invention is to provide stabilizing means forstackers, which is positive acting and not susceptible to the readydevelopment of defects.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a stacker and associatedtractor, equipped with the present invention, parts of which are shownin elevation and parts in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of the stackerframe and tractor in conjunction with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the structure of thepresent invention at one side of the stacker.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral generally refers to a tractor for effectingmovement of a stacker and in the drawings numeral 11 generally refers tothe stacker frame.

The tractor 10 has side chassis members 12, 12 while the stacker hashorizontal side frame members 13, 13 and a super frame 14 having ahorizontal top member 15 supported by vertical side members 16, 16.

The tractor 10 is of the usual construction and has a hitch 16 betweenthe rear end thereof and the tractor chassis.

In carrying out the present invention two wing stabilizing units 17, 17are employed. Each of these units consists of an arm 18, the inner endof which pivotally connects to a clevis 19 and this clevis 19 in turn issupported by a vertical pin 20 carried by a bracket 9 secured to thestacker frame 11, as suggested in Figures 1 and 2.

Numeral 21 denotes a stabilizer Wheel which is mounted Within a fork 22having an upstanding pintle 23, this pintle extending upwardly through abearing 24 at the outer end of the arm 18. The forward side of the arm18 has a lug 25 projecting therefrom and overlapping this lug is a yoke26 through which a pin 27 is disposed for pivotally connecting the yoke26 to the lug 25. The yoke 26 has an elongated shank 28 formed with aplurality of openings 29 therein at the forward portion thereof and thisapertured portion of the shank 28 extends telescopically within anelongated barrel 30. A pin or cotter-key 31 can be disposed through anopening in the rear end of this barrel 3,0 and through the desiredopening 29 of the shank 28.

' The forwardend of the barrel 39 has an opening there: in to receive apin or bolt 32 which extends not only through the opening in the barrelbut also through openings in a yoke 33 and this yoke is provided with astub shaft 34 operating within a bearing or opening in the correspondingside member 12 of the tractor chassis. In other words this assembly madeup of the parts 30, 32, 33 and 34 make up a universal coupler.

As is understood, these side stabilizing units 17 are hydraulicallycontrolled and in this connection a hydraulic fluid reservoir 35 issuitably secured as at 36 to the super frame member 15 of the stackerframe 11.

A cylinder 37 provided with a valve plunger 38 therein, depends from thereservoir 35 and is in communication therewith. Numeral 39 denotes afiller head for the reservoir 35.

Numeral 40 denotes a hand lever which has a pivotal connection 41 withthe valve plunger 38 and is connected at one end by a pivot 42, with alug at the lower end of the cylinder 37. These parts are arranged sothat when the lever 48 is pushed upwardly at its free end, the valveplunger 38 will be moved upwardly so as to close off a pair of outlets43, 44 from which extends flexible conduits 45, 46 respectively. Anydesired means may be employed for securing the conduits 45, 46 to thesuper structure of the stacker frame 11.

The super frame 11 at each side thereof has a clevis 47 in which isswingably mounted on a horizontal plane, a yoke 48 which embraces and ispivotally secured to a lug 49, as at 50 and this lug projects from ahydraulic cylinder 51 in which a piston 52 is operable. Extending fromthe piston 52 and through a packing 53 is a rod 54 which pivotallyconnects as at 55 to a lug at the juncture of the arm 18 with thestabilizer wheel bearing 24.

It can now be seen, that normally the lever 40 is in the loweredposition shown in Figure 1 and this is desired when the tractor ispushing the stacker along afield for the collection of whatever materialis to be loaded.

When the rake loaded with material has been brought to the stack, thepresent invention is brought into play. Prior to this, the stabilizingwheels 21 are free to raise and lower as a machine travels over unlevelterrain, due to the ability of the fluid in the system to move back andforth. For instance Figure 1 shows one of the stabilizer wheels higherthan the other and of course this means that some of the fluid from thecorresponding hydraulic cylinder 51 has been displaced and has movedinto the reservoir 35.

However, when the stack has been reached, it is desired to fix thestabilizing wheels 21 upon the ground and this is accomplished by movingthe lever 40 (see Figure 1) upwardly to close off the outlets 43, 44 andthus the sta bilizing wheels are hydraulically locked upon the ground,so that when the rake is elevated for the placement of the loadedmaterial upon a stack, no tipping toward one side or the other of themachine will occur.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

Stabilizing means for stackers including a stacking machine, sidestabilizing units mounted to the machine, each of said units includingan arm having its inner end pivotally connected to the machine, astabilizing wheel car 3 ried by the outer end of each arm and hydraulicmeans the valve cylinder, said valve being operative to close 0E betweenthe arms for permitting free action of the arms, the outlets andmaintain the fluid in the conduits intact to or hydraulically lockingthe arms in fixed ground engagprevent any action of the arms andstabilizing wheels. ing position to prevent tilting of the machine whena load is being lifted, said hydraulic means between the arms 5References Cited 111 the file of fills 19 consisting of a hydrauliccylinder for each of the arms, a UNITED STATES PA hydraulic lineextending from each of the cylinders, a valve cylinder to which theconduits connect, a valve elek23 i: g3 ment 1n the cylinder, manualmeans for operating the 2,663,266 Baldwin Dec 22, 1953 valve element, afluid reservoir in communication with 10

